Natural history of atopic dermatitis: Studies of neonatal cohorts

Atopic dermatitis, a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the skin, affects 15 to 30% of children. Studies of neonatal cohorts have contributed significant advances to our understanding of atopic dermatitis, allowing us to discover genetic and environmental factors, which favor its development. Currently, two distinct groups of genes are implicated in atopic dermatitis, in particular, genes involved in the integrity of the cutaneous barrier and genes involved in innate and adaptive immunity. Precocious sensitivity through the skin could be the first step in the atopic march, being responsible for food allergy associated with atopic dermatitis in young infants, which then progresses to allergic rhinitis and asthma in childhood and into adolescence. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.